Patient Denial is the Primary Reason Asthma Sufferers Do Not Fill Prescription After Diagnosis

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that 76 percent of pulmonologists, 77 percent of allergists and 82 percent of primary care physicians believe that patient denial is the primary reason asthma patients do not fill a prescription after diagnosis. According to the new report entitled Treatment Algorithms in Asthma, patient-level claims data shows that only 56.6% of patients move to pharmacological therapy within 360 days after being diagnosed with asthma.

The report also finds that as compared to one year ago, Merck/Kyorin's Singulair has posted large gains in second-line patient share, from 18.3 percent to 20.2 percent.

"Singulair's gain is even all the more impressive since all other maintenance therapies have lost share at second-line," said Michael Malecki, Ph.D., analyst at Decision Resources. "We believe that Singulair's benign side effect profile attributed to its second-line growth."

GlaxoSmithKline's Advair, the market leader, faces new competition from AstraZeneca's Symbicort, according to the report. Physicians now have to weigh familiarity with Advair against the faster onset of action of Symbicort. Symbicort's faster onset and European labeling for use as acute therapy appears to be influencing U.S.-based physicians, who report they are likely to prescribe Symbicort for both acute and maintenance treatment of asthma.

About Treatment Algorithm Insight Series

Decision Resources combines in-depth primary research with the most extensive claims-based longitudinal patient-level data from PharMetrics® to provide exceptional insight into physicians' prescribing trends and the factors that drive therapy product choice, from diagnosis through multiple courses of treatment, for a specific disease.

For each disease examined, Decision Resources' Treatment Algorithms Insight Series provides:

  -- Qualitative diagnosis and referral patterns for the United States based      on thought leader input and guideline recommendations.   -- Quantitative treatment algorithms based on patient-level claims data   -- Product share (class and specific compound level) within each line of      therapy (1st, 2nd, 3rd line).   -- Practicing physician opinion on why specific drugs are chosen for      certain patient populations.   -- Discussion of key drug combinations (including add versus switch      patterns) by lines of therapy.   -- Progression of therapy from key 1st line products (e.g., initial      treatment w/ Lipitor to 2nd line, 3rd line; initial treatment with      Zocor to 2nd line, 3rd line).   -- Pathway to key therapies from previous therapies (e.g., how much      Avandamet use is preceded by metformin, Avandia, or both as single      products?).   -- Qualitative analysis of 2-year forecast incorporating practicing      physician sentiment towards upcoming launches, changes in      reimbursement, etc.     About Decision Resources 

Decision Resources, Inc., (http://www.decisionresources.com/) is a world leader in healthcare market research publications, advisory services, and consulting designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources, and master their chosen markets.

All company, brand, or product names contained in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

  For more information, contact:   Elizabeth Marshall   Decision Resources, Inc.   781-296-2563   emarshall@dresources.com 

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SOURCE: Decision Resources